Rainforest Trees - Daleys Top Ten

A spectacular native rainforest tree for large gardens. Bright green, shiny, palmate shaped leaves with red bell-shaped flowers in summer. Flowers best after a hot dry summer. Tolerant of most soil types and positions.

This native miniature palm is found as an understorey throughout the subtropical rainforest's of Australia. Growth is very slow in it's initial stages but very worthwhile to nurture as it is very attractive as an indoor plant. Orange fruits are edible.

The staghorn is one of the most prominent and stunning features of our native rainforest. They are epiphytic and adorn the treetops with their spectacular foliage, they can also be lithophytic which means growing on rocks. Each fern consists of two types of frond, the nest fronds are infertile and grow around the host tree holding the fern firmly in place as well as providing it with a nest at the top to catch falling leaves which rot down and feed the plant. The fertile fronds are the dramatic antler shaped fronds that produce the spore, these hang down from the center of the fern.

An attractive tree with glossy dark green foliage and profuse flushes of yellow and red pea-like flowers during summer. The green seeds of the black bean pod are poisonous. The timber is highly prized. Bird attracting. 40m

Attractive rainforest pine that bears greenish seeds on swollen edible stalks. The purple fruit are grape like with a sweet juicy pulp with a subtle plum flavour. The slightly resinous fruit can be used for both sweet and savoury recipes. It is an attractive hedge due to its contrasting dark and lime green foliage. The timber is popular as a cabinet making. The trees are male or female so planting 3 or more together will increase your chances of getting tree of both sexes and fruit.

This is a beautiful and hardy native Australian tree fern which is adaptable to many sites provided it has adequate moisture levels. It is fast growing with large lacy fronds and a slender trunk that is adorned with a pattern of oval scars where the old leaf bases are shed cleanly. It makes a very attractive garden plant where it will prefer a frost free moist position.

Purplish-brown red skin, with bright red flesh. The juicy cells, similar in appearance to caviar, are a delightful surprise in salad dressings. A rainforest tree that naturally occurs as an understorey tree in SE Queensland and Northern NSW.